Exploring Paternity Leave: What Are the Trends and Guidelines in Your Company?

Dear Friends,

I want to propose a policy of Paternity Leave for my company. I would like to know the trends - the minimum and maximum leaves employees are allowed to take, and the guidelines for that.

FYI - The Government of India provides 15 days of leave, but the industry may not afford that. Globally, the range is from 2 days to 35 weeks!

Thank you,
Avinash Desai

Hey Avinash,

There are no hard and fast rules to define paternity leave. However, as a fair employer, you can provide a decent 3 working days' leave for the proud father to be with his newborn. Alternatively, you could offer 5 days, considering that your organization operates on a days/working days basis.

These 3/5 days would be more than enough for the employee to be with the family from the time the baby is born. However, you would need to spell out the guidelines for the applicability. For example:
- This leave would be applicable only for the birth of a maximum of two children.
- It must be taken within the first month of the baby's birth.
- It is not transferable or set off against any other leave.
- It is not encashable.

You are better placed to define the limits, but these are some of the specific queries we have faced sometime back.

Cheers!
Brillian

Dear Brillian,

I am aware that there is no rule. I want to propose a fair practice only, and we are a fair employer.

Avinash

Hi,

Paternity leave given out in our industry (call centre) is about 5 working days immediately after the birth of the baby. The employee needs to produce relevant documents to avail leave in this category.

Though the employee has the option of clubbing his earned leaves along with this if he requires more leaves. This way the employee can save his leaves for future requirements like this.

Regards

Hi Kavita,

Attached is the Global Trend for everyone's information.

Avinash